Church of Saint Saviour In Chora

Built in the late 11th century, its celebrated mosaics and frescoes were added when the church was remodelled in the 14th century. Depicting all manner of Christian iconography, from the Day of Judgement through to the Resurrection, the works here are arguably the most important surviving examples of Byzantine art in the world, both in terms of their execution and preservation.

Ironically, this Christian art owes its excellent condition to the church’s conversion to Islam in the early 16th century, when the frescoes and mosaics were covered over. They remained concealed until their rediscovery in 1860. The Kariye Hotel at the end of the street is also worth visiting for its excellent Ottoman restaurant, Asitane.